Goma mayor takes steps to keep the Congolese franc in circulation

The mayor of Goma, Désiré Ngabo Kisuba, has announced a measure aimed at improving the circulation of the Congolese franc within his jurisdiction.

After the AFC/M23 took the cities of Goma and Bukavu, the Kinshasa government introduced a series of measures designed to paralyse economic activity in areas held by the Congolese political-military movement.

The closure of banks and microfinance institutions came in that context. The move was meant as collective punishment for the people of North Kivu and South Kivu living in AFC/M23-administered areas, strangling their economy and hampering their daily activities.

The economic resilience of the people of North Kivu and South Kivu, and of local business operators in particular, deserves recognition. Operating in an extremely difficult environment, they have shown remarkable courage and staying power. They have kept business going while adapting to measures they see as hostile and restrictive.

At a meeting with business leaders on 28 September 2026, Goma mayor Désiré Ngabo Kisuba announced measures to ease the shortage of Congolese francs in the city. He urged members of the Federation of Enterprises of the Congo (FEC), small traders and the wider population not to refuse Congolese franc banknotes, whatever their condition, as long as they remain sufficiently intact to be used.

The measure is intended to boost circulation of the national currency in a complex economic climate. According to information gathered by Daraja-Média's newsroom, the AFC/M23's finance department has also undertaken financial reforms, including scrapping certain taxes and cutting some of the financial red tape.

Still, the road ahead is clearly a long one, and efforts in this sector deserve to be stepped up. Smooth transactions, access to financial services and the availability of different denominations remain key challenges for the local economy.

The mayor's initiative appears to have struck a chord with some residents. Support measures on the ground will nonetheless be needed to ensure it is effectively enforced and that the Congolese franc circulates more freely in everyday transactions.